Hey guys. It's time for another go around. I think It's high time I got back to this story. I know some of you probably wanted to jump right back in to the next chapter, but I decided to go through and fix things… again. I felt that, now that I've had more experience with writing, I'd go back and give this story a look over.
Man was I embarrassed with my earlier writing. I knew I could do better and deliver a much more appealing sentence structure to read. Not to mention some of the earlier moments could use a little more umph to them. As such, I decided to go for another rewrite. This time, however, I'm confident in my abilities to give you guys the best version of this story I can.
Meowth: I thought ya had more new stuff ta say?
Inkaliber: Remind me why I let you into the Switched at Tragedy studio again? You're a Pokémon character for crying out loud!
Meowth: I figured it would be good ta broaden my field. Jess and James are fun an' all, but I kinda like being able to take cat naps. Besides, ya need someone to keep an eye on da stuff around here.
Inkaliber:… Fine, but I'll be keeping an eye on you. In any case, there are a few things we need to go over. As you could probably guess by the title, there's going to be some interesting twists along the way as we dive in. For starters, I decided to add another series to the mix.
Meowth: Anoder? Wasn't it already kinda confusin' in da first place?
Inkaliber: Be that as it may, I felt that it would be interesting to throw in another variable to the story. It was hard to find anyone that would fit well for the story I had planned, so I decided to look into adding more people in order to make up for that. I won't be revealing which series it is yet, so expect normal Dragon Ball and Naruto content from here on. Comment down below which series will be added to the mix. I'll be dropping a few hints here and there, along with a few dummy references, so keep a sharp eye out.
Without further ado, let's get this rewrite, hopefully the last one for this story, started. Take it away Meowth!
Meowth: On it Boss! Inky here don't own Dragon Ball, Naruto or da surprise third series. He does own OC characters, objects, concepts and creatures unless stated odawise.
Inkaliber: Wait. What did you just call me?
Meowth: Um… Roll tape!
Unknown Pocket in Space and Time
Within a huge temple floating in a vast open space stood a teenager. The man had purple skin, white hair, and yellow eyes. He wore square rimmed glasses, a black short-sleeve muscle shirt with the letters F,X, and I on each sleeve, black pants, and brown boots. His only other possession was a brown scabbard with a katana sheathed within it. He was currently staring at a statue of a dragon, paying close attention to the head of the stone beast.
The large construct was made out of marble, a few gold accents adorning its features. It had a golden mural depicting seven orbs and nine beasts behind it. The first orb held a single star within it, notifying its place as the first in the set. The other orbs followed suit as they circled it. The teen knew these orbs as the Dragon Balls: mythical orbs that allowed the collector to obtain a certain number of wishes, the amount and strength of said wishes varying with different sets.
The beasts seemed to share the same pattern as the legendary orbs, though the defining detail was how many tails they had. Each beast depicted was a different kind of animal, another difference from the Dragon Balls. The first of the beasts resembled a racoon, maybe a tanuki, rising from the sand as if it were a part of it. The second seemed to be a burning tiger with two tails, while the third appeared to be a three tailed turtle with a crab-like shell. The four tailed creature was a primate spewing lava; the fifth creature was a horse with five tails and a dolphin's head; the sixth creature, which freaked him out slightly, seemed to be a bipedal slug with stubby arms and six tails; the seventh creature was a large insect with six wings and a tail; the eighth creature appeared to be a cross between an octopus and an ox with four horns on its head and two human arms; and the final one was a literal nine-tailed kitsune.
These creatures were unknown to the teen, fascinating him to no end. Turning his attention away from the mural, he looked to the pool of water that lay in front of the statue. Before he could view it in greater detail, the stone dragon's eyes began to glow blue, a moan ringing throughout the temple. The man tensed in response, but soon loosened up at the lack of malevolent intent.
"Welcome to the Temple of Space and Time, young one." said he statue. "I am the Shenron of Time and Space. I am one of the few who watch over time and space, guarding each from those who would..." The boy held up his hands, pausing the statue's speech.
"I don't mean to be rude, but can you make this quick?" requested the impatient teenager. "I've got research to do and Time Patrollers to outrun. Not many people are fond of my methods of completing my goal." A tear formed in the dragon statue's eye. It fell into the pool below as another moan filled the temple.
"It is your devotion to your research and your view on life that has caught my attention young Fu." stated the dragon. The teen seemed to tense as the dragon stated his name. He slowly reached for his sword as he prepared for a confrontation.
"How did you know about me? I did well to keep myself hidden after that incident." The statue sounded off its amusement as it ignored the man's confusion.
"One does not mess with the flow of time and go unnoticed by its guardians. In spite of your recent offences, I need someone like you right now." The teen was taken aback by this statement. "There is much work that needs to be done, and the solution I seek is one my allies are not as willing to accept." Fu soon composed himself as he looked the dragon in the eye, entering a mock bow.
"What does a humble researcher like me have to offer you, oh Great Shenron of Time and Space? It must be important if you're willing to go behind the backs of your fellow guardians." The statue remained silent as a light began to emanate below the duo. Fu looked down to see where the source of the energy was, quickly taking note of the lack of reflectiveness in the water. The pool glowed as two different locations were shown.
"See for yourself, young researcher." Fu looked into the first location, a frown quickly forming on his face. He knew this point in time very well, yet he was never fond of remembering it. It was days before one of the saddest events in history: the destruction of planet Vegeta. He watched as Bardock and Gine, parents to the legendary hero Son Goku, said their last goodbyes to their youngest son.
"I've programmed this to head to a distant planet called Earth." explained Bardock. The man had absurdly spiky hair, onyx eyes and a scar upon his right cheek. He wore a green and black saiyan armor set with black tights and white and yellow combat boots. One glaring detail he had was his swaying monkey tail, a traits all Saiyans shared. This very fact was reflected by his wife.
Gine had medium, shaggy black hair and the same colored eyes as her mate. She wore a sleeveless black bodysuit and dark green combat armor highlighted with bronze and outlined by white, in addition to purple armbands and white boots. Her armor also had a thigh-length hoop. She wore an appropriately worried face over what they were doing. She placed her hands on the red glass of the pod, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
Bardock decided to press on with his explanation, hoping to calm her nerves a bit. "They appear to have low power levels and aren't technologically advanced. The good news is that it's not very valuable so it won't be on Frieza's radar." Gine sighed as she shook her head. She looked inside the pod once more, taking note of their son's current appearance.
Goku looked a lot like his father in regards to hair style and eye shape, though he carried her lighter skin color. He was currently wearing a black and orange Saiyan armor set similar to Bardock's own armor, black and orange boots, and a golden necklace with a pendant sporting the Saiyan insignia. He had been crying the entire trip to this remote part of the planet, as evidenced by the spit on the glass and the tears running down his cheeks. It broke her heart to see her youngest child like this, but she had to remain strong. She looked him in the eye with a new found confidence.
"If your father is wrong about all this, then we'll come find you immediately." reassured Gine. Bardock lowered his eyes as their child approached the window. He suddenly smacked his hand against the side of the pod, leaving a small indent as he caught his son's attention.
"Listen Kakarot. Do your best to survive on Earth, okay?" Kakarot tilted his head in confusion, unsure of what his father meant. Gine couldn't hold back her tears anymore as she leaned in closer.
"We'll see you soon, alright?" The boy straightened his head as he looked to both of his parents. He didn't know why they looked so sad. Bardock then placed his hand against the glass, a soft smile on his face.
"Be strong." Kakarot, who would later be known as Goku, placed his hand in the middle of his father's own appendage. The glass separated the two from actually touching, but the boy could still feel a strange connection between them. "Goodbye." Bardock pulled himself and Gine back as the pod began to lift itself up into the sky.
The couple watched as the vehicle flew higher and higher into the atmosphere. Gine couldn't hold her emotions back anymore as she ran out of her mate's grasp. She knew it was futile to fly after her son now, but she still needed him to hear her last words in case things were as bad as Bardock thought. She came to a stop as she took a deep breath.
"DON'T FORGET US KAKAROT!" The pod twinkled out of view as it left the planet's atmosphere, leaving no trace that it was ever there. The upset mother began to weep as her mate wrapped a comforting arm around her. Fu watched on as the pod raced towards Earth, setting off the events he knew were unavoidable. Time seemed speed up as Shenron brought him to the event he dreaded having to see.
The teen watched Frieza, the monster that destroyed the planet, laugh as the death ball drew closer. A familiar Saiyan floated alone in its path as the forces of his hated enemy tried to flee the scene, a soaking red bandana now brandished on his forehead. Bardock tried to fight back against the attack, but his energy was snuffed out by the superior force. The man soon found himself engulfed in the attack, one name passing off his lips.
"Kakarot!" The sphere collided with the planet, destroying it and all of its inhabitants in a powerful explosion. Fu looked away and decided to focus on the other location, hoping to drown out Frieza's laughter. It was a small planet, similar to Earth from his time line. It was seemingly untamed except for a few villages he could see.
Something felt off to him, however, as he sensed the ki of the area. To his surprise, it felt like there were few people who actually had access to the area, and even then it seemed to be restrained by some force. He looked to the dragon, confusion on clearly visible on his face.
"I don't recognize this planet." said Fu. "It looks similar to Earth, yet the energy here is… different somehow. I've never felt anything like it." The dragon hummed in response to this statement.
"I don't expect you to." stated Shenron. "This is an entirely different time branch from the one you hail from. It's inhabitants have found a unique way to harness the ki around them, mixing it with their own bodily energy. I believe they call it Chakra, after the nodes in the energy system." The young man tilted his head in confusion, thinking back to the beginning of the explanation.
"Back up a bit there. Time branch? Aren't the many variations in time known as timelines?" The dragon's eyes glowed brighter as its scales began to glow green. A network of energy appeared behind the dragon, appearing similar to the top of a tree.
"Timeline is such an ignorant explanation for it, one I had hoped was abolished by the Supreme Kai of Time. Time is like a tree, and the beginning of time is like the trunk. The trunk splits off the into multiple branches. Tell me, young Fu, do the branches just go out in a straight line with no interruptions?" The teen thought over this notion for a bit before shaking his head in denial.
"No. They twist and turn, even making more branches." This answer seemed to be what Shenron was looking for as he hummed in response.
"And the same goes for time. Every decision, whether it be something as small as a glance or something as big as destroying a planet, branches off into multiple different branches in time. Each new branch is an alternate version of that decision. Some fall off because they are too weak to stand on their own. That is all I will share for now, however, as we have strayed from the main point of your visit."
"That's such a shame. This new intel has caused me to alter or completely rewrite my theories." The dragon ignored his guest's comment as he allowed the branches to recede back to where they belonged.
"Back to the matter at hand, look deeper into the forest. Within these trees lies a hidden village known as Konohagakure: the Hidden Leaf Village. It is one of the hidden shinobi villages, of which there are many. Watch carefully, young researcher. A true tragedy is about to befall this village."
Fu did as told, albeit with some reluctance. Suddenly, a huge explosion came out of nowhere. Nine tails poked out of the smoke, ears soon following behind. The dust settled to reveal a large, orange kitsune with nine tails. The teen quickly recognized the beast from the mural.
"It is the last beast on your mural. The Nine-tailed Fox." Shenron's eyes glowed brighter in response.
"Correct young Fu. This creature is indeed Kurama: the Kyubbi no Yoko. One of the nine biju, or tailed beasts. They are seen as demons by the people of this Earth, and this new arrival is about to demonstrate why." Fu continued to stare down at the scene, nervous as he felt the energy of the creature rising by the minute.
The massive fox began destroying the surrounding forest, nothing left unchecked in its path. He swung all of his tails left and right, caring not if it toppled any buildings in its wake. He stomped on the ground, crushing all beneath him. He fired a laser of strange energy, creating a massive explosion as he hit his mark. Fu noticed men rushing out of the trees, quickly noting their incredibly low power levels.
"The fools. They will die if they face that thing. Why are they..." The teen was interrupted by the huff of the mighty dragon in front of him.
"Shinobi: the warriors of this world. They defend their villages with their very lives. They have come to try and kill the beast, and they will undoubtedly fail." Fu growled as he tried to find some chance for the men to overcome the demon. His eyes widened as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"Mighty Shenron? If they are demons, then why are they on your mural?" The dragon hummed as the scene began to shift closer towards the massive beast. "There is no way you would put such creatures in the same scene as the Dragon Balls." The dragon seemed pleased by this accusation, sounding off his interest.
"Good eye young one. Remember what I said? They are seen as demons, but they are far from it. They are living Chakra, the mixture of ki and stamina as I explained earlier. This time does not rest far from your own, labeled 149 whilst yours is a variation of 147."
The teen's confusion was not sated by this answer. It did not explain why the Kyubbi was attacking them in the first place. The dragon's eyes dimmed a bit as he finally reached his intended destination. "The shinobi will die for their village and for some their families, and yet they cannot see the bigger picture. Do you feel that ominous energy boy?"
At this question, Fu began to search around with his senses. He soon found strands of visible chakra being lead off to another area, each one impaled into the beast's hide. It soon became clear that these were no normal strands: they were chains. The teen cringed at the sight.
"He's being used as a puppet." The pool changed its image to show the holder of the chains staring down another man. The man controlling Kurama wore a black robe over a black body suit, hiding away his skin tone. His face was covered by a black and yellow mask that carried only one hole for eyesight. Fu took a note to remember the man's energy signature, as well as the malevolence behind it.
"Yes. The man controlling him will remain a mystery for now in order to keep time flowing as usual. The man he's fighting, however, is the great leader of Konoha. The Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze. He is part of the tragedy."
Minato had bright, blue eyes and spiky, blond hair. He also had jaw-length bangs framing both sides of his face. His attire consisted of a standard Konoha uniform with two bands on both of his sleeves, a green flak jacket blue forehead protector, and blue sandals. He also wore a short-sleeved long white haori over his normal attire, closed in the front by a thin, orange rope. Fu tried to get a closer look at the opponent, but the duo suddenly entered combat.
The fighter could tell that they were being sped up by Shenron, probably in an attempt to keep time from being disrupted by his own actions. He watched as several elemental techniques he had never seen before were launched back and forth. Soon Minato was able to lay a hand on his opponent, causing some sort of seal to cover him. The chains on the Kyubbi slowly dissipated and his eyes went from round and humanoid to slitted. In spite of his freedom, Kurama continued to attack the village.
"What is wrong with him!? Minato just freed him, and yet he goes and does this!?" Shenron sighed as he looked to his guest.
"Kurama has grown hateful of humans over his lifetime. A long time ago, humanity found a way to seal the Biju within the bodies of newborn children. Many could not survive the immense power of even the One-Tail Tanuki, yet there were those who could handle the power to varying effects. These became known as the Jinchuriki, living weapons used in wars to destroy entire armies. Humanity's greed is what has driven Kurama to destroy them like flies."
Fu watched on helplessly as more shinobi ran to stop Kurama. Many were swatted away in an attempt to send the beast away from Konoha. He readied an attack that the teen knew was powerful enough to overshadow Goku in his younger years, which was something no one there would survive. He was suddenly crashed down upon by a large toad. Atop this new arrival stood Minato.
Time flashed forward once more, much to the annoyance of the teen. It was to his surprise, however, when he watched the Kyubbi suddenly disappear. The fox was dragged down towards the ground as it became pure energy. The dust rose once again, leaving none with a proper view. The scene began to pan in on the sound of a crying child, however.
Fu couldn't help but gasp as he saw a child lying alone on an altar. He had blonde hair much like Minato, yet he was barely old enough to open his eyes. Upon his stomach was a very dominant seal, and three whisker marks adorned each of his cheeks. Were it not for the Kyubbi's chakra flowing into it, the teen would not have been able to guess what it was there for. He looked to Shenron with a worried frown.
"What happened to Minato? I can't see him anywhere. Moreover, who's child is this!?" The dragon said nothing as its eyes glowed brighter.
"This child is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze." It did not take an entitlement for Fu to guess the origins of the child. "He is the child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki." He clenched his fist as he looked down at the child.
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME HE USED HIS OWN SON FOR THE RITUAL!? HOW COULD HE DO THAT!? WASN'T THERE ANYONE ELSE!?" Smoke puffed from the dragons nose as a large burst of ki bellowed from inside it.
"DO NOT RAISE YOUR TONE WITH ME CHILD!" Fu was taken aback by the immense power displayed by the dragon. The statue could have burned him away if it so chose to, but the smoke came to a stop as it mellowed out. "The only clan able to contain the Kyubbi, the Uzumaki Clan, is practically dead. The Yondaime's wife was the only Uzumaki left within the walls of Konohagakure."
Fu looked back down at the water as he allowed himself to calm down. He soon noticed something lying on the ground next to the altar, two somethings in fact. His eyes narrowed as he soon recognized one of them to be the body of Minato himself. It was very clear that the Kyubbi had impaled him before it was sealed away, due to the gaping hole in his chest. It was the other object, however, that had him widen his eyes.
A woman laid within the Yondaime's arms. She had violet eyes, and red hair that reached her ankles. She wore a high-collared, sleeveless blouse under a long, loose-fitting dress with a wristband on her left wrist and standard shinobi sandals. She too had a hole ripping through her chest, revealing that she shared the man's fate. Being the only two there at the present moment, the teen put two and two together.
"They died trying to seal the Kyubbi into their own son. Is there no one waiting for him?" The dragon's eyes flickered in denial.
"The previous Hokage will soon arrive to pick him up. Unfortunately, he will have to resume his duties as leader of the village, making him unable to care for the boy. In his time returning to office, he will pass a law forbidding anyone from sharing who Naruto's parents are and his status as a Jinchuriki." Fu looked to the dragon incredulously.
"But he has a right to know! He can't just go his whole life not knowing who his parents are!" The dragon remained silent as he allowed the boy to think over the circumstances. As he predicted, his guest came to the realization of the truth. "Minato had many enemies."
"You are correct young researcher. Any village would love to get their hands on the son of the Yellow Flash of Konoha, if only to get their revenge on the man. This threat is double applied due to his status as the Jinchuriki of the most powerful Biju known to man. Sadly, he is not entirely safe within the walls of the village." Fu paled at that statement, not at all liking where it was going.
"How could he not be safe within his own home? I know there'll be people who want to control him for their own gain, but there have to be people in his adoptive family that…" The dragon's eyes glow brighter as he cuts his guest off.
"Those who do know of his existence as the Jinchuriki of Kurama will make his life a living hell." This statement made whatever options Fu had come up with die in his throat. He looked down at the poor crying child, time slowed for some odd reason. "The common people and lower ranking ninjas of Konohagakure have no knowledge of how sealing works. When word got out due to traitors and those who did not care for their own lives, the people took their pain out on the young Naruto."
Fu couldn't speak due to the lump in his throat. Never in his life had he heard of such cruelty, and he had spent a few years with his biological uncle not long after his own birth. Sure he believed people could do nasty stuff within the different versions of time, like the Red Ribbon Army, but he had never heard of such a cruel fate. That feeling in his heart grew stronger as he watched over the boy. He finally gained the strength to speak as he tried and failed to rub the tears off Naruto's face.
"He has no one. He's all alone with no parents to raise him and no relatives to turn to." He felt a slight pain in his heart at the familiar circumstances, something he hated to feel at the moment. He looked to the dragon with a dark glare."Is this what you brought me here for: to witness two tragedies?"
"You had to see the problem before you could hear the solution. In the original time branches, Goku would end up with Gohan sr. and Naruto would be essentially raised by those who looked beyond what he held within. Both would go on to become great heroes and raise families of their own. I have seen the future of these variations of the time branches, however, and the outcomes are grim." The teen looked up at the dragon, not looking forward to this explanation.
Seeing no interruption from his guest, Shenron continued. "Gohan was killed before Goku arrived on earth, so he'd be alone and he'd destroy the human race. As for Naruto, he was raised to be a weapon because the previous Hokage was murdered by a former friend. Without any action these time branches will snap, taking the lives of those within along with other nearby branches." Fu looked the dragon in the eye, his anger growing due to the growing sense of tragedy.
"Is there nothing you can do then? Isn't it your job to find these kinds of problems and fix them? You have to do something!" The dragon remained silent as he let his guest breathe for a bit. The dragon sighed as its lights flickered once more.
"That is exactly what I have done, young Fu." This statement brought about confusion in the purple man. He had no chance to question the dragon, however, as its lights grew brighter once more. "I cannot leave the temple without a guardian summoning me with their year time wish, keeping in line with the rules of all wish dragons. As such I need individuals to go about and fix time and space, such as the Time Patrollers and other individuals."
Fu soon began to realize what the dragon was saying as he looked down at the water. "That is where you come in. You will go into these shattering time branches and swap Goku and Naruto between worlds, ensuring that they will receive the best possible lives available in these branches of time. That is the only way I can see this working without damaging the branches any further. While it is not permitted for individuals to begin a convergence, it can be brought about in times of great peril."
"Convergence? What is a convergence? I've never heard of such a phenomenon." The dragon sounded off his understanding as his eyes glowed brighter.
"Of course you have never heard of it. The Convergence is one of the most guarded events of all time and space. When two failing branches near the snapping point, it is possible for them to reach out to one another for support. This usually results in figures, powers, and places moving between the barrier between dimensions, though this usually flows with the laws of equivalent exchange. Soon the branches will begin to merge, forming their own tree based on their origins."
Fu's eyes widened in shock, unsure how to comprehend the new information. Time had a way of fixing its own problems?Then why was he even here!? Sensing this mindset in his helper, the dragon decided to put it to rest. "Sadly, not all time branches are able to complete the process."
This was enough to pull the teen out of his thoughts, returning his attention to the stone being. "Upon such an event, as well as other conditions, the guardians can be authorized to artificially generate a convergence. In fact anyone, accidentally or not, is capable of initiating an artificial event, though they need the proper equipment and training. With the council being slow to approve the mission, however, I must turn to you in order to keep balance within the multiverse. There is a lot of research to be gained from switching their live, which is only part of what I plan to offer in return for your services."
"But what about the time patrollers?" The dragon's eyes flickered a bit at this remark. "As I mentioned earlier, I'm not exactly on the best terms with them. If this council doesn't agree with you, I'd have a target the size of an average saiyan meal on my back." Shenron's eyes flashed green in response to the question.
"They won't even know with me involved. If it comes to a point where they do not approve of the mission, which is highly unlikely due to the mentality of the council, I will personally pull you and the children away from the situation. The children need this, and time is of the essence as they say. Will you help me young Fu?" Fu smiled as he wiped the lone tear from his eye.
"Yes mighty Shenron! I will not stand by while these children go through Hell. I've been there too long to let that happen." The green glow strengthened in response to this proclamation.
"Good. Now, it is time to begin your first mission. Secure the children while I deal with a certain overzealous Galactic Patrolman." Shenron's eyes glowed brighter than ever before as he activated his power. Fu became encased in light as he zoomed off to complete his job.
Time Branch 149, Konohagakure
Hiruzen had come to the crater personally to check for signs of Minato, hoping to find him unharmed. He wore a black jumpsuit, mesh segments over the lower portions of his limbs, and a green gauntlet that covered much of his right arm. The old man came to a stop as he neared the center of the crater. His eyes squinted in sorrow as he neared the body of the Hokage and his wife. He sighed as he looked over the duo, checking their pulses.
"Minato," grieved Hiruzen. "If only I had been fast enough, I could have been the one to take your place." He looked to the nearby altar, hoping to find the child of his successor. Imagine his shock when there was no one to be found. He looked all around the area, hoping to find any sign of the child.
He leapt forward as he moved on, hoping and praying that the kidnapper had not gone far. He found nothing as he searched high and low, however, not even a hair to go by. He was about to give up when he then heard a cry he recognized. "Naruto!" He ran over to find a strange teenager holding Naruto and another child in his hand.
He pulled out his signature staff, intent on taking him down. If this strange being thought he could steal away the heir to the Uzumaki and Namikaze clans, then he had another thing coming. The young man noticed him, quickly dodging out of the way of the old man's weapon. He landed just a few feet away, letting off a small wave of killing intent. It was nothing like Hiruzen had ever felt, though it was hard to get a read due to the oddity of the Chakra.
"Hold on there, old man!" said the strange being. "You don't wanna accidentally hurt the children do you?" Hiruzen begrudgingly lowered his weapon, bringing a smirk to the purple skinned being's face. "So you're the old Hokage? So cool!"
"Who are you!? What are you doing with Naruto!? Release him at once!" The purple teen scratched the back of his head.
"Right, right! Explanations. Sorry about that. My name is Fu and I come in peace. I've come to make life easier." The old man's eyes narrowed at that statement.
"For whom are you implying? Speak up child!" Fu smirked as he looked down at the children in his arms.
"Everyone, which of course includes these little guys. You seem like you're in a hurry so I'll cut to the chase. I've come to swap the children out for their own safety." Hiruzen's eyes widened at that statement.
"You cannot take Naruto! His parents sacrificed themselves so that he could live! He belongs in Konoha!" Fu quickly shook his head in defense, not wanting to bother the sleeping younglings.
"I know all that but think about it. With him being a Jinchuriki of the creature that was used to destroy your home and killed many family members, what chance does he have? Do you want him to grow up alone?" The former Hokage shook his head in response.
"He would not be alone! There are bound to be people who care about him just as much as I do! Besides, no one would ever learn of his existence as the Jinchuriki beyond…." Fu snarled as he released more killing intent.
"That's a load of bull and you know it!" Hiruzen was taken aback by the sudden outburst, only to return to his senses as the children began to cry. Fu panicked as he tried to appease the children, dropping the threatening force as he tried to lull them back to sleep. Both men sighed as the duo finally returned to a placid state. The purple teen couldn't be more grateful for the time sphere slowing everything else down.
He took a deep breath as he looked to the old man. "Look, whether you like it or not, someone's going to snitch about him being a Jinchuriki out of hatred, not even caring about whatever threat you hang over them. Knowing politics, none of the head clans will be allowed to adopt him due to a power balance. This will leave him alone to face a vindictive, revenge hungry populous that can't tell the difference between a kunai and the box that contains it." Hiruzen hated to admit it about his own people, but this Fu character did have a point.
Fūinjutsu is one of the more difficult arts for a shinobi to learn, let alone a civilian to understand. Not to mention he knew a certain war hawk who'd love to control a Jinchuriki and take the job of Hokage. Would his own people really show such distaste for their savior? He felt a headache begin to grow as the answer became clear to him. There was no way the people would accept him without knowing that he was the son of their Yondaime Hokage, and there was too much danger involved there.
Seeing the look of understanding on Hiruzen's face, Fu decided to press onward. "There are too many variables against him here in Konohagakure. He has a better chance swapping out with this little guy. I mean, just look at him! Is this the face of someone evil?"
He handed the other child to Hiruzen, careful not to drop Naruto in the process. The old man was skeptical of this idea, but the little boy was calling for him. He held the child in his arms, remembering what it was like to hold his son and later his grandson in his arms. His hair was in a strange style, but other than that he was just a normal child. Well, that's what he thought till he saw the child's tail.
Fu quickly waved his now free right hand in defense of the boy. "Don't be scared! He's not a monster... unless he looks at a full moon, but that's an avoidable circumstance. Anyway, he's one of the last survivors of his people. They were all wiped out by an evil tyrant they served."
That particular detail stung Hiruzen. He knew plenty of people who became citizens in Konoha during the wars that underwent similar problems. The purple teen sighed as he looked downcast. "Think of his tail as a kekei genkai, but for his whole people. He has no one to go to, so this place is his only shot at a happy life."
"But what about Naruto!?" Hiruzen would not forget what he was giving up in this scenario. He could not just trade Naruto away to some stranger who could very well be in league with the masked figure Minato spoke of. Fu groaned as he shook his head.
"I was getting to that! Geez! You need to chill. I know a nice man who will be willing to take in our little maelstrom here. He lives in the mountains where none of your enemies can find him and, he's a master martial artist."
While he was worried about these factors in the stranger's story, Hiruzen could not deny the safety that came with it. Having a martial arts master train and raise the boy meant he could be plenty ready to become a shinobi when he come of age, even if he ends up unable to use chakra like one young shinobi everyone practically knows. Fu smirked as the man seemed to falter in his stubbornness. "Think about it for a minute. This is his best shot at becoming strong enough to make his folks proud."
He held out his hand with a smile. "They'll both get the love they deserve, and life will be much better for those around them. What do you say?" Hiruzen didn't know what to do. He couldn't just trade Minato and Kushina's child for another.
It wouldn't be right, especially since Kushina would rise from the grave just to take him with her. Then again, he couldn't leave this other boy without a family or a home. He began to strategize how he could come out on top in this situation when a bright light suddenly caught his attention. He widened as he saw the spiritual forms of Minato and Kushina, the duo standing in front of an emerald dragon. He checked to make sure he was not caught in a genjutsu, but every option returned nothing.
The deceased duo didn't say a word as they smiled at him. It was as if they were telling her that it would be okay, that Naruto would be okay. The other child pulled on his beard, bringing him back to reality. He sighed in defeat as he looked to Fu.
"Fine. Take Naruto to this place and ensure his safety. Mark my words, however, should anything happen to him..." The purple teen rolled his eye in response to the old man's threat.
"I get it! I get it! It won't be a problem. He'll be just fine. By the way, the other child's name is Goku."
He backed up as he prepared to make his dramatic exit. He brought his hand to his head as he saluted the village leader. "I'll leave the clan name up to you. Just make sure he ends up somewhere nice and friendly! See ya later!"
He disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the world of shinobi behind. Hiruzen looked at Goku, unsure if he made the right decision. The child grabbed at his beard once more, laughing as the man cried out in pain. He couldn't help but laugh after the boy let him go, in spite of the surprising pain in his jaw. He looked off to the village as the Saiyan nodded off.
"Let's go home." The Sarutobi Clan head leapt off as he returned to his broken village. Stray thoughts of who would care for the monkey boy flashed through his mind. He dropped these thoughts instantly, however, as a single truth flashed through his mind. If what the this 'Fu' said about the villagers was true, then they were about to be in for a rude awakening.
Time Branch 147, Mt. Pazao
Son Gohan decided to go for a walk on this fine day. He had small dark eyes and a bushy white mustache and eyebrows. He wore a Chinese martial arts uniform, which consisted of a sleeveless orange jacket over a long sleeved black shirt, and a green hat. He strolled through some bamboo as he decided to wander off the beaten path. He sure did enjoy the peace and quiet, something he rarely got when he went into town.
He suddenly heard a large wail going off, the obvious source being a child. He ran over to the origin of the cry, only to find a purple man holding a blond child. He walked over, careful not to startle the duo. The man noticed him almost instantly but smiled as he continued to cradle the young boy.
"Hey there stranger!" greeted the purple man. "How's your day going?" Gohan sighed in relief, happy to not battle anyone on this fine day.
"It's going well." answered Gohan. "How about you?" The stranger sighed as he looked down at the baby in his arms.
"Actually... I have a bit of a problem. You see, my name is Fu, and I'm trying to find a home for little Naruto here. He's recently become an orphan. I've tried all over but no one has room for the little guy." The old man's face fell in seriousness, as he reached out his arms.
"Let me take a look at him." Fu handed Naruto over to Gohan, doing his best to hide the growing smile on his lips. The blonde baby was still crying in spite of all the cooing from his caretaker. The old man rocked him as he tried to calm his nerves, surprisingly yielding better results. He rubbed the whisker marks on the child's cheek as he fell asleep.
The soothed look on the boy's face brought about a warm smile on the old man's face. He quickly took note of the weird pattern on his belly but attributed it to a weird birth mark. With all these positives, however, came questions within Gohan's mind. One in particular he couldn't let go unvoiced. "Who wouldn't want such a sweet young boy?"
Fu let a frown form on his face as Gohan looked over to him. "Sure he has a funny looking birthmark, but that's no reason to say no to such a cute little guy. If anything the whiskers are an added bonus for any mother." The purple teen sighed as he shook his head.
"The problem is that there just doesn't seem to be any room for the little guy. I fear what might happen if I can't find a place for him. I can't take care of him or else I would." Gohan looked down at the baby, softly chuckling as he began to suck his thumb. There was something about him that brought about a warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart.
His mind was finally made up as he saw a hint of blue in the boy's still closed eyes. "Anyway, sorry to bother you stranger. The day is almost over for me and I can't let my boss wonder where I am. I guess I'll be..." Gohan looked to Fu with a determined smile.
"I'll take him." The purple teen let a shocked expression appear on his face, feigning surprise rather well. "I've always wanted a child of my own and I'll be darned if I let this little guy go without a home." Fu smiled in success, not expecting anything else from the old man. He clapped his hands together quietly as not to disturb the sleeping Naruto.
"That's just wonderful! I'm happy to hear it! Looks like you have a home now my little Maelstrom!" He then dropped his fist into his palm as if he had forgotten something. "On a quick note, I am required to check up on him every now and again."
"I'm fine with that. I enjoy the company of others every once in a while. Come by anytime you like." Fu bid them goodbye as he took off into the forest. Gohan looked down at Naruto, the baby still sucking on his tiny thumb.
The old man couldn't help but think about how much his day was derailed, all because he couldn't let a child go. 'Son Naruto.' Something about the name just felt right to him. He adjusted the child in his grasp before returning to his little cot in the woods. If he remained any longer, he would've seen the glowing light of his new acquaintance's departure as well as the dead body of a hooded assassin.
Unknown Dimension, Temple of Time and Space
Fu walked up to Shenron, a smirk on his face. He couldn't help but feel good about what he did for the two boys. It may have been harder to convince Hiruzen to let Naruto go than he thought, but everything turned out just how he planned it. He stopped as once again the moaning filled the building. The statue's eyes glowed the spirit inside looked to his newest recruit.
"You have done well Fu." greeted the dragon. "They have accepted the fate of the children. It will not be long before the bulk of our plan comes to fruition. Report on your last assignment." Fu sighed as he rubbed his cheek.
"The parents have been moved to the respective afterlife, though that Kushina lady packs a mean punch." said Fu. "I'll change the locations of certain individuals as time moves on just like you requested. I'll do it as you say it's needed or when it's good for research." The dragon hummed in response to this statement.
"When things begin to fall into place, certain individuals will begin to appear in each of the realms. This will be an equal exchange between the two to ensure everything goes smoothly. Trying to move things too fast could have bad results, so keep your experiments to a minimum until I can correctly gauge the time this will take." The teen nodded, albeit with a hesitant look on his face.
"If it's not too much to ask, how exactly is this helping anything aside from giving the kids a better life? How will the time branches be fixed if we keep changing stuff like this? Couldn't a wish be made through you to put an end to the problem." Shenron's eyes glowed brighter in understanding. He had been expecting these sort of questions for a while now.
"The answer will come when the time is right. For now, you must rest. We have many trials ahead of us, and you will need your strength." Fu respectfully bowed before walking out of the main room. The dragon looked into the pool, two shadowy figures displayed before him.
"Your reign of fear ends now, Majin Buu, Kaguya. You will meet your end, and my kin will be avenged!" The dragon's eyes faded back to darkness. A light appeared in the pool, almost as if a call was directed towards him. The glow faded from the pool as two faces appeared in it.
There's the rewritten prologue… again. A helpful reviewer on another story inspired me to fix up the prologue to better match the now canon separation scene from Dragon Ball Super Brolly and the original sealing scene from Naruto Shippuden. I also decided to fix it up and add a little more emotion to it. Hiruzen would definitely argue strongly for Naruto to remain in Konoha, so I wanted to try and convey that a little better. Plus I thought it'd be better to list the Biju on the mural instead of skimming over them.
Anywho, what do you think about the changes to the prologue? Do you like how the Bardock and Gine scene went? How do you think things will pan out for the duo? Let me know in a review down below, and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible. This is Inkaliber, signing out.
